Homelessness has reached crisis levels, so football clubs have been stepping up their efforts to respond. ConnectSport’s Jon Harland spoke to Tom Lyons, Director of Community Development at the Fulham FC Foundation, to find out how one Premier League club has been taking action.

In December last year, research showed that one in 47 people in London are homeless and that there has been an 18% increase in homelessness since 2023. The number of homeless individuals is currently at an all-time high. 

To address this issue, the Fulham FC Foundation partnered with SPEAR to host its second Stadium Sleepout at Craven Cottage in November. Fundraisers braved the elements on the concourse and under the stars to raise more than £13,000. These funds will help the FFC Foundation and SPEAR to support vulnerable people in South-West London and raise awareness of London’s homelessness crisis.

DEDICATED

SPEAR is a charity based in Twickenham dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness in South-West London find secure accommodation and build a positive future.

Tom Lyons, Director of Community Development at the FFC Foundation, shared his experience of participating in the Stadium Sleepout, and revealed how the club is already planning for another event later this year as part of the Foundation's aim to build a more healthy and inclusive community. 

When SPEAR approached the FFC Foundation, they discovered that their visions aligned, as both charities prioritise supporting vulnerable people in South-West London, an area where homelessness is such an important issue. 

Carrie Reiners, SPEAR’s Director of Fundraising and Engagement told ConnectSport: “We’re really proud to have partnered with the FFC Foundation for the Stadium Sleepout as we could see that the Foundation shared our commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable in our local community.

“Between July and September last year, a record total of 4,780 people were recorded as sleeping rough in the capital. We remain determined to end rough sleeping in South-West London. Funds raised at events like the Stadium Sleepout will directly impact the lives of those we support.”

Tom recalled how fundraisers were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Craven Cottage, followed by a Q&A session with former Fulham FC player Barry Hayles. “By around 9:30pm, everyone eventually bedded down," he explained. "I had a sleeping bag, a yoga mat, and a hot water bottle, while other people brought a variety of different things.

VOLUNTEER

“I managed to get a few hours of sleep between the seats in the Putney End. It wasn’t comfortable, but that’s what taking part is all about: to experience a fraction of what homelessness would be like. Obviously, we’re not replicating that in its entirety at all. We knew, come the morning, we’d wake up and get in our cars or get on the train and go home.”

Tom shared a particularly impactful story from a SPEAR client and volunteer. “He was recently homeless and came along to take part, but he also gave a talk to the other participants. His lived experience gave people an insight into how he became homeless. He was a painter and decorator, and then when Covid-19 hit, work dried up. 

“It got to the point where he couldn’t sustain it - he couldn’t pay his rent. He ended up pitching his tent in a meadow owned by an elderly couple he knew. It was a powerful reminder of how life can become overwhelming for people not being able to pay bills, how your mental health can be affected, and how it is something that can happen to anyone.“

The event provides an opportunity to put the struggles of homelessness into perspective and raise awareness and funds to drive homelessness figures down. 

This was the second Stadium Sleepout run by the FFC Foundation, and Tom confirmed plans to run it again later this year. “I imagine it will grow and grow because more people will want to take part. Other football clubs do it, and when we spoke to Liverpool, they had 200 participants. I think people love the appeal of sleeping in the Kop because that’s almost like a sacred place for a lot of people.” 

Tom is confident that the Foundation can exceed the 40 participants from the 2024 event. “We’re going to ask Barry [Hayles] to actually sleep out in the stadium,” Tom revealed. Hayles made 175 appearances for Fulham, and getting club legends involved in charity events helps raise awareness. “It’s also a good way for the players to give something back and maintain their connection to the football club,” Tom added. 

INCLUSIVE

The Stadium Sleepout is just one of several initiatives run by the FFC Foundation to foster a healthy, inclusive and thriving community. The Foundation impacts the lives of over 10,000 people every year, using sport as a tool for positive change. For Tom, sport has an inherent power to create a sense of belonging.

“When we measure how people feel after participating in our programmes, they tell us their physical and mental wellbeing has improved,” Tom explained. “Playing sport provides so many physical and mental benefits, and by the end of our activities, they feel more socially connected.”

Tom shared a story of a young person with autism who stood out in his mind as someone who benefited from the Foundation’s programmes. “Initially, he wanted nothing to do with sport and was not particularly healthy. But he quickly started making friends and loved playing football. Over the years he’s played more and more for our autism team, and he’s even started to play for a grassroots team.

“His confidence has grown and he wants to get increasingly more involved. His dad wrote to us, saying, ‘I’m from East London, my family are all West Ham fans’. But because of everything the Foundation does, his family are now [Fulham] season-ticket holders! He told us he’s got a much happier, healthier son who's gone from limited social interactions to someone full of confidence.”

Stories like this are inspiring, but it's important to understand how social impact is measured. Tom explained how the Foundation tracks each participant's engagement. “We worked with over 11,000 participants in 2023, with an average contact time of 20 hours per person.”

The Foundation uses surveys throughout each programme, asking participants to rank aspects of their mental health. At the end of the programmes, they analyse the responses to assess impact. Staff also gather feedback from parents or guardians from junior members. The Foundation uses case studies, too. “We take a long-term view on some participants. Some of them are now our staff. Over time, we build up case studies to develop a richer picture of our impact.”

DIVERSE

With more events like The Fulham Family Walk and an Away Day Cycle to Brighton on the horizon, what are the ambitions for the future? "We're not a charity looking to double in size or expand globally," explains Tom. "Football clubs thrive on being close-knit and personal, and the Foundation mirrors that. Our focus is on supporting disadvantaged young people and adults in South-West London, which is incredibly diverse in itself."

Focusing on local impact, Tom highlighted that scaling up Foundation programmes is a key ambition for this year. "We currently engage with nearly 2,000 disabled young people and adults, yet many more remain far less likely to participate in sport compared to their non-disabled peers.

"In 2023, 28% of our participants were female. That increased to about 32% in 2024, but our goal is for 50% of participants to identify as female."

The Foundation’s commitment to fostering an inclusive community through sport highlights the power football has beyond the pitch. By partnering with charities like SPEAR and hosting initiatives like the Stadium Sleepout, the Foundation continues to raise funds and change lives.

As Tom and his team push forward with their ambitions, the impact of their work will continue to grow, strengthening communities across South-West London. 

Here are five other examples of football club foundations addressing homelessness through Stadium Sleepouts:

Liverpool: Kip at the Kop

Manchester United: Old Trafford Sleepout

Everton: Goodison Sleepout

Wolves: Molineux Sleepout

Watford: Dreams Re-united

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